Well, we have learned it's about a dozen.
NGLA, Day 2. Well, I woke up before my alarm, so that was great. The day started at 7am wake up and now everything is officially over for the night. Today was the first day of sessions, and all of mine were fantastic and I know they will all be super helpful to my chapter.
My first two were for local organizations. The first was more group discussions. I really didn't think I would like the fact that it was like that, but it was really wonderful. My specific group was more focused on how to fix internal problems we have, and how to rush better. A lot of people gave me really good ideas to bring back to BSU. Several people said they used a points system, and when people didn't show up at event or did something bad, they lost points. Doing something positive, or something above and beyond what is asked will get you extra points. Other things they said helped their members bond were "sister dates". However often they did them, one person would pick a name from a jar and whatever sister they pulled is the one they would go and spend time with. In Phi Pi Delta, one of our big problems with alumni is that they never want us to change, and someone put it very nicely by saying that we need to remind them that "Change = growth, and growth = knowing we won't die off". Someone also suggested to get people to see that even though we are small, we're still like all the other organizations, we should have and be included in some type of all Greek mixer.
And I had a friend! Briana is from upstate NY, and is on the EBoard of her sorority. She and I went to our other two sessions together, which was nice because they both made us talk to people near us. The second session of the day that we went to was about how locals can better fun themselves since we don't always 100% fall under a governing body like IFC or Panhel. It seemed like basic things, but it was good to have someone actually say them and make you realize, this should be done, it sounds easy so we should be able to do it. Some of the things that I head I want to immediately start to accomplish, and others I know I will have to discuss in chapter for probably at least another semester. Some simple things I realized Phi Pi Delta doesn't have are: up to date risk management, emergency protocol, handbooks for officers, and insurance. These are all things I think we can accomplish by the end of 2016. We also do not have a 'brand', and though brands are not why people joined (as talked about in my next session), they are still important so people have something visually consistent with us. "If you don't put your message out there, others will do it for you". Lastly, this session has me thinking about pros and cons for if BSU had an IGC (InterGreek Council).
The last session was about recruitment. This is something we don't do well with. I went into this thinking they'll have some big, magical answer. And they did and did not. Three point to successful recruitment: 1. you must KNOW PNMs to get them too join, 2. People join people, not letters, 3. Letters scare people, be a little normal for non-Greeks. Also, it can't just be one week or weekend. You can't just do it once or twice a year and expect people to know actives, to like them, to know about the organization, getting PNMs is a 365 day job. But that's easy, because recruitment is a hello and a handshake, making a friend, talking us up once. It's connecting to people and making those personal connections with them. "Don't make recruitment you life, make your life recruitment."
That was all for the sessions. After those we got family dinner up the street. The conference was having some night entertainment (DJ and hypnotist), so we went and checked those out until 10pm. THEN IT WAS PAJAMA JAM! We had snack and played games, and talked and hung out with MB. So it was clearly the best Friday night ever.
Day 2: SUCCESS
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